Prime Video SEA: 2025 Event & Future Revealed

The Future of Entertainment: Independent Movies and Theatrical Release

As the entertainment industry undergoes a permanent shift, independent movies are poised to benefit from theatrical release and streaming. Greg Silverman, former president of creative development and physical production at Warner Bros., envisions a future where independent movies harness the muscle of Hollywood’s global releasing, and then leverage streaming for long-term profitability. Silverman cites the success of independent movies like “John Wick” and “Knives Out,” which have gone on to spawn successful franchises.

Stampede Ventures, Silverman’s company, is gearing up to launch its film division, with a focus on producing content for theatrical release, followed by sequels on streaming platforms. This model, Silverman believes, is the key to unlocking their full potential. “To get reach and aggregate niches, streamers do best,” Silverman said. “To create worldwide moments, theatrical exhibition is the best.”

The Economics of Theatrical Release

While Silverman acknowledges that there will be fewer cinemas in the future, he is confident that theatrical release is not going away. “Less theaters, but the economics will be the same, and the experience will be better because the theaters will be a bit more crowded,” Silverman said. “In the U.S., there are too many theaters, and the lower quality theaters need to shut down. But theaters in general are going to survive and thrive.”

The economics of theatrical release in the streaming era are complex, but Silverman believes that streaming platforms represent an opportunity for independent filmmakers. “The streamers represent an amazing opportunity if you own the library of, say, ‘The Office’ or ‘Friends’ – they can buy finished product and monetize it for you. However, juggling the SVOD platforms’ voracious appetite with the creative potential elsewhere is a balancing act.

The Balancing Act between SVOD and Creativity

Silverman notes an inverse relationship between professionalism and standards and the opportunity for independents. “When we look at the platforms, we see an inverse relationship between professionalism and standards and the opportunity for the independents. Would you like to have your content on Disney Plus, knowing that they are going to handle it absolutely perfectly and you’ll make 20%? Or, take the other extreme, which is YouTube or Twitch or tons of other platforms where you don’t know what the experience will be, or even if the platform is going to be there.”

In terms of genre, Stampede is looking for content that has emotional resonance beyond the transient experience of the initial viewing. “We are really invigorated by two areas,” Silverman said. “In the kids’ space, you can make a gigantic impact really quickly and a real emotional connection with the audience. Think of the shows you watched as a kid, they have enduring impact.”

Regional Content and Global Reach

At the APOS conference, Prime Video’s Vice President, Asia Pacific, Gaurav Gandhi, highlighted the importance of regional content in Southeast Asia for global streaming platforms. Gandhi confirmed that Prime Video would be introducing channels and TVOD in Southeast Asia, as well as expanding its local-language content slate in the region.

Gandhi emphasized the need for streaming platforms to adapt to local preferences and taste. “We’ve always said we’re not just about the core SVOD service, but we’re also a content hub and marketplace with TVOD and channels,” Gandhi said. “We’re at different growth stages across the region – obviously, we’ve been investing in Japan and India for a while, and we’re now getting started with David’s team here in building out Southeast Asia.”

Aparna Purohit, Head of Originals, India & SEA, talked about how she aims to bring some of the expertise gained in India to the region – with a focus on Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand. “When we started out in India, we realized we needed to start building a community of writers, and we brought in consultants, writers, and directors from outside India to help on some of our shows,” Purohit said. “That really helped to fuel the entire creative economy of the country, and I’m excited to bring some of those initiatives here.”

Prime Video has already seen success with Indian shows that have been well-received internationally, including “Mirzapur,” “Inside Edge,” “Breathe,” and “Made In Heaven.” The Indian team has also recently moved into unscripted with documentaries and reality show “Mission Start Ab,” following a group of young entrepreneurs.

The Role of Independent Movies in Shaping the Future of Entertainment

As the entertainment industry undergoes a permanent shift, independent movies are poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of entertainment. Silverman believes that independent movies have the potential to benefit from theatrical release and streaming, and that the next global franchises will come from the independent sector.

Silverman’s model for theatrical release followed by sequels on streaming platforms is one that could potentially disrupt the traditional Hollywood studio system. By harnessing the muscle of Hollywood’s global releasing structures, independent movies can reach a wider audience and then deliver long-term profitability through streaming.

The potential for independent movies to benefit from streaming is significant. As Silverman notes, “The streamers represent an amazing opportunity if you own the library of, say, ‘The Office’ or ‘Friends’ – they can buy finished product and monetize it for you.”

However, juggling the SVOD platforms’ voracious appetite with the creative potential elsewhere is a balancing act. Silverman notes an inverse relationship between professionalism and standards and the opportunity for independents. “When we look at the platforms, we see an inverse relationship between professionalism and standards and the opportunity for the independents.”

The Future of Cinema and Streaming

As the entertainment industry undergoes a permanent shift, the future of cinema and streaming is uncertain. However, Silverman believes that cinemas will continue to thrive despite the rise of streaming. “Less theaters, but the economics will be the same, and the experience will be better because the theaters will be a bit more crowded,” Silverman said.

The experiential aspect of cinema is one that will continue to draw audiences. “In the U.S., there are too many theaters, and the lower quality theaters need to shut down. But theaters in general are going to survive and thrive.”

Silverman also notes that streaming platforms need to offer more than just content. “When we look at the platforms, we see an inverse relationship between professionalism and standards and the opportunity for the independents.”